Food Insufficiency and Physical and Mental Health in a Longitudinal Survey of Welfare Recipients

TLDR

Food insufficiency is a major problem in the United States, especially for poor African American women with children, and while it can affect household members’ well‑being, distinguishing its impact from other shared risk factors such as poverty is challenging. The study followed 676 welfare‑receiving African American and white women in 1997 and 1998 to assess the relationship between food insufficiency and their physical and mental health. After adjusting for common risk factors, women who experienced food insufficiency in both years were more likely to report fair or poor health later, 1998 insufficiency was linked to recent major depression, and insufficiency at either or both times was associated with a lower sense of mastery, underscoring the association between household food insufficiency and poorer physical and mental health.

Abstract

Food insufficiency is a significant problem in the United States, and poor African American women with children are at especially high risk. An inadequate household food supply can potentially affect the well-being of household members, but it is difficult to distinguish the effects of food insufficiency from risk factors for poor health that are also common among the food insufficient, such as poverty. We examined food insufficiency and physical and mental health among African American and white women (n = 676) who were welfare recipients in 1997. Controlling for common risk factors, women who reported food insufficiency in both 1997 and 1998 were more likely to report fair or poor health at the later date. Food insufficiency in 1998 was significantly associated with meeting the diagnostic screening criteria for recent major depression. Food insufficiency at both times and in 1998 only was related to women's sense of mastery. These findings add to growing evidence that household food insufficiency is associated with poor physical and mental health.